Dinner

Back outside by the lake, my thoughts crept back in. Memories of that twisted black smoke gnawed at my insides, its darkness still clinging to the edges of my mind. No matter how hard I tried to push it away, it always found a way to slither back in, whispering doubts, feeding my fears. My hands trembled at my sides, but I clenched them into fists, willing myself to focus. "You were doing better!" Acheron's voice rang out across the clearing, sharp and demanding. I huffed, glaring at the small coil of water that barely twisted in the air before splashing uselessly onto the ground. Better? I wouldn't call that better. I grit my teeth and forced the water to rise again, wrapping it around the smooth rock Acheron had placed in front of me. The liquid quivered, unsteady, but I held it—at least for a moment. Acheron watched me with a satisfied grin, but there was something else beneath his expression. Tension clung to him, barely noticeable to anyone who hadn't spent enough time studying him. It was in the way his jaw remained tight, the way his fingers twitched before he curled them behind his back. Something was lurking behind the stone wall of his emotions, something even he couldn't quite suppress. I pushed myself harder, ignoring the burn in my muscles, the exhaustion clawing at my bones. My vision blurred, and before I could control it, the water collapsed, spilling onto the ground with a soft splash. My legs wobbled, and I barely caught myself before I collapsed completely. Acheron didn't move to help me. He simply watched, his expression unreadable. Cold. Unwavering. "Come inside. It's time for dinner." He turned to step away but then hesitated, glancing back at me. "You did slightly better." Slightly. I exhaled heavily, staring out at the lake. The water remained still, mocking me with its quiet serenity. I pushed myself up on shaky legs, my body screaming in protest as I trudged toward the house. Inside, I slumped into my usual seat at the table, my limbs leaden. Acheron sat beside me, his presence looming, while Sylvin moved around the room. The warm scent of steak and mashed potatoes filled the air, but my appetite had long since disappeared. Sylvin grabbed a plate and carefully prepared my food. I watched as he poured a thick pink liquid into my mashed potatoes, stirring just enough to dull the color before layering gravy on top to mask it. I rolled my eyes, pretending not to notice. As if I wouldn't realize. He set down a glass of water in front of me, and I caught the faint remnants of powdered sediment still dissolving at the surface. A double dose tonight, then. Why? I wondered. They didn't need to drug me anymore. I was too exhausted from training to fight back, too drained to attempt an escape. The realization made my stomach twist. I picked at the food absentmindedly, my gaze drifting to the dessert placed at the center of the table—a molten lava cake, its rich chocolate center oozing onto the plate beside a scoop of vanilla ice cream. A memory stirred, unbidden.

Six Months Ago

The night had been warm, the summer air carrying the scent of city lights and late-blooming jasmine. Isla had picked me up from my house, her smirk barely contained as she stole glances in my direction. "Are you ready for your date with Malik?" My face burned. "Isla, it's not a date. You know that." She scoffed, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Sure, not a date." She gestured toward my outfit. I looked down at my knee-length black cocktail dress, the fabric hugging my frame elegantly. My black pumps clicked lightly against the car floor, and I had taken the time to style my hair up in a tight bun, letting a few wisps fall loose around my face. "God forbid I try and look presentable," I muttered, throwing my hands up. She rolled her eyes. "Just admit you like him already. I can't stand the tension between you two anymore." I slumped in my seat, my chest tightening. "You don't get it." My voice was softer now, the words barely above a whisper. Isla glanced at me, waiting. "I do like him. A lot." My fingers twisted together in my lap. "But someone like him… just can't be with someone like me." My voice cracked at the end, and her expression softened. "Audra…" She sighed, reaching over to squeeze my hand reassuringly. "I understand how you feel. You think you're not good enough just because he's royalty? Well, let me tell you something—you're more than worthy. I'd even bet he likes you back." She said wiggling her eyebrows. I swallowed hard and nodded, letting the conversation fade as we continued our drive. When we arrived at the restaurant, we were seated with the guys. Malik sat directly across from me, his golden eyes warm with quiet amusement. Across from Isla, Ajax grinned, already teasing her about something. I stared at the menu, torn between the steak and the Alfredo pasta. "Are you almost done deciding?" Malik's voice was expectant, his brows raised. I shook my head. "I can't choose between the steak or the pasta." Malik rolled his eyes, snatching the menu from my hands and setting it aside. "So then get both." I blinked. "That's too expensive. Besides, I wouldn't be able to eat that much—" I say, trying to talk him out of it. "So then we'll share." His tone was matter-of-fact, as if the decision had already been made. He leaned back in his chair, arms crossing over his chest in satisfaction. The waiter came over, and Malik glanced at me. "How do you like your steak?" "Medium rare," I answered hesitantly. "Alright then," he told the waiter. "She'll have the Alfredo pasta—add chicken and an extra breadstick. I'll have the steak and potatoes, medium rare." I stared at him as the waiter scribbled everything down and hurried away. He was serious? When the food arrived, Malik carefully split everything, portioning it onto my plate. "There. Now you can have both," he said, looking pleased with himself. I smiled softly, warmth blooming in my chest. Dinner passed in a blur of laughter and conversation, and just when I thought the night was over, a waiter approached, setting a dessert between us and another between Ajax and Isla. "This is from the kitchen staff. On the house." He placed two spoons beside it. I pushed the plate toward Malik. "Here, you can have it." He shook his head. "We can share if you'd like." Shyly, I nodded, and we both dug in. Halfway through, Malik suddenly chuckled, his shoulders dipping up and down slightly as he pointed at my face. "What?" I asked, frowning. He pointed to his nose, grinning. Confused, I swiped at mine, but my fingers came back clean. Malik chuckled and leaned forward, his touch featherlight as he brushed his thumb against the tip of my nose. Heat rushed up my neck, my breath catching. "Jeez, get a room, you two," Ajax snickered playfully. We both snapped our heads toward him, our faces burning.

Present Day

The drugs were starting to take effect now. My limbs felt heavy, my thoughts sluggish. The room wavered, shifting in and out of focus. I turned to Sylvin, confusion creeping into my voice. "Sylvin, what's going on?" My vision swam. My breath hitched. They never gave me this much. Sylvin's face blurred, his usual smirk absent. "I'm sorry, Audra." His voice was the last thing I heard before everything went black.